The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage

473 Pages·1975·2.59 MB·English

by  S. L. MacGregor Mathers

THE BOOK
OF THE
SACRED MAGIC
OF ABRAMELIN THE MAGE
BOOKS I, II AND III
AS DELIVERED BY ABRAHAM THE JEW UNTO HIS SON LAMECH, A.D. 1458.
TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL HEBREW INTO THE FRENCH, AND NOW
RENDERED FROM THE LATTER LANGUAGE INTO ENGLISH. FROM A UNIQUE AND
VALUABLE MS. IN THE "BIBLIOTHÈQUE DE L'ARSENAL" AT PARIS.

BY
S. L. MAC GREGOR MATHERS
AUTHOR OF "THE KABBALAH UNVEILED," "THE KEY OF
SOLOMON," "THE TAROT," ETC.
PUBLISHED JOHN M. WATKINS, LONDON
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 1900

The Book Of The Sacred Magic Of Abramelin The Mage Translated By S.L. Macgregor Mathers.
This edition created and published by Global Grey 2013.
www.globalgrey.co.uk

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
APPENDIX A. HEBREW AND CHALDEE ALPHABET
APPENDIX B. EMPLOYMENT OF A CHILD-CLAIRVOYANT BY
CAGLIOSTRO
APPENDIX C. EXAMPLES OF OTHER METHODS OF ANGELIC
EVOCATION
THE FIRST BOOK
THE FIRST CHAPTER
THE SECOND CHAPTER
THE THIRD CHAPTER
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
THE FIFTH CHAPTER
THE SIXTH CHAPTER
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
THE NINTH CHAPTER
THE TENTH CHAPTER
THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER
THE TWELFTH CHAPTER
THE SECOND BOOK
PROLOGUE
THE FIRST CHAPTER. WHAT AND HOW MANY BE THE FORMS OF VERITABLE MAGIC
THE SECOND CHAPTER. WHAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE UNDERTAKING THIS
OPERATION
THE THIRD CHAPTER. OF THE AGE AND QUALITY OF THE PERSON WHO WISHETH TO
UNDERTAKE THIS OPERATION
THE FOURTH CHAPTER. THAT THE GREATER NUMBER OF MAGICAL BOOKS ARE
FALSE AND VAIN
THE FIFTH CHAPTER. THAT IN THIS OPERATION IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO REGARD
THE TIME, NOR THE DAY, NOR THE HOURS
THE SIXTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING THE PLANETARY HOURS AND OTHER ERRORS OF
THE ASTROLOGERS
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER. REGARDING WHAT IT IS NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH
DURING THE FIRST TWO MOONS OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS VERITABLE AND
SACRED MAGIC
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING THE TWO SECOND MOONS
THE NINTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING THE TWO LAST MOONS WHICH MUST BE THUS
COMMENCED
THE TENTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING WHAT THINGS A MAN MAY LEARN AND STUDY
DURING THESE TWO MOONS
THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING THE SELECTION OF THE PLACE
THE TWELFTH CHAPTER. HOW ONE SHOULD KEEP ONESELF IN ORDER TO CARRY
OUT THIS OPERATION WELL
THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING THE CONVOCATION OF THE GOOD
SPIRITS
THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING THE CONVOCATION OF THE SPIRITS
THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING WHAT YOU SHOULD DEMAND OF THE
SPIRITS WHO ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE DIFFERENT TROOPS AND CONVOKED ON
THREE SEPARATE DAYS
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER. CONCERNING THE SENDING THEM AWAY
THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER. WHAT WE SHOULD ANSWER UNTO THE
INTERROGATIONS OF THE SPIRITS, AND HOW WE SHOULD RESIST THEIR DEMANDS
THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER. HOW HE WHO OPERATETH SHOULD BEHAVE AS
REGARDETH THE SPIRITS
THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER. A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF THE NAMES OF THE SPIRITS
WHOM WE MAY SUMMON TO OBTAIN THAT WHICH WE DESIRE
NOTES TO THE FOREGOING LISTS OF NAMES OF SPIRITS
THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER. HOW THE OPERATIONS SHOULD BE PERFORMED
BY WHOM THE SYMBOLS OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE THIRD BOOK BE MANIFESTED
UNTO WHAT PRINCE THE OPERATIONS OF EACH CHAPTER ARE SUBMITTED
INSTRUCTIONS AND EXPLANATIONS CONCERNING WHAT POINTS WE SHOULD
PARTICULARLY OBSERVE
THE THIRD BOOK
PROLOGUE
THE FIRST CHAPTER. TO KNOW ALL MANNER OF THINGS PAST AND FUTURE
NOTES TO THE CHAPTERS OF MAGICAL SYMBOLS
NOTES TO CHAPTER I
THE SECOND CHAPTER. TO OBTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING, AND TO BE
ENLIGHTENED UPON ALL SORTS OF PROPOSITIONS AND ALL DOUBTFUL SCIENCES
NOTES TO CHAPTER II
THE THIRD CHAPTER. TO CAUSE ANY SPIRIT TO APPEAR, AND TAKE ANY FORM, SUCH
AS OF MAN, ANIMAL, BIRD, ETC.
NOTES TO CHAPTER III
THE FOURTH CHAPTER. FOR DIVERS VISIONS
NOTES TO CHAPTER IV
THE FIFTH CHAPTER. HOW WE MAY RETAIN THE FAMILIAR SPIRITS BOND OR FREE
IN WHATSOEVER FORM
NOTES TO CHAPTER V
THE SIXTH CHAPTER. TO CAUSE MINES TO BE POINTED OUT, AND TO HELP FORWARD
ALL KINDS OF WORK CONNECTED THEREWITH
NOTES TO CHAPTER VI
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER. TO CAUSE THE SPIRITS TO PERFORM WITH FACILITY AND
PROMPTITUDE ALL NECESSARY CHEMICAL LABOURS AND OPERATIONS, AS
REGARDETH METALS ESPECIALLY
NOTES TO CHAPTER VII
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER. TO EXCITE TEMPESTS
NOTES TO CHAPTER VIII
THE NINTH CHAPTER. TO TRANSFORM ANIMALS INTO MEN, AND MEN INTO ANIMALS;
ETC.
NOTES TO CHAPTER IX
THE TENTH CHAPTER. TO HINDER ANY NECROMANTIC OR MAGICAL OPERATIONS
FROM TAKING EFFECT...
NOTES TO CHAPTER X
THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER. TO CAUSE ALL KINDS OF BOOKS TO BE BROUGHT TO ONE,
AND WHETHER LOST OR STOLEN
NOTES TO CHAPTER XI
THE TWELFTH CHAPTER. TO KNOW THE SECRETS OF ANY PERSON
NOTES TO CHAPTER XII
THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER. TO CAUSE A DEAD BODY TO REVIVE...
NOTES TO CHAPTER XIII
THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER. TO RENDER ONESELF INVISIBLE UNTO EVERY PERSON
NOTES TO CHAPTER XIV
THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER. FOR THE SPIRITS TO BRING US ANYTHING WE MAY WISH
TO EAT OR TO DRINK...
NOTES TO CHAPTER XV
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER. TO FIND AND TAKE POSSESSION OF ALL KINDS OF
TREASURES...
NOTES TO CHAPTER XVI
THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER. TO FLY IN THE AIR AND TRAVEL ANY WHITHER
NOTES TO CHAPTER XVII
THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER. TO HEAL DIVERS MALADIES
NOTES TO CHAPTER XVIII
THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER. FOR EVERY DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTION AND LOVE.
NOTES TO CHAPTER XIX
THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER. TO EXCITE ... HATRED AND ENMITY, DISCORDS,
QUARRELS, ETC.
NOTES TO CHAPTER XX
THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER. TO TRANSFORM ONESELF, AND TAKE DIFFERENT
FACES AND FORMS
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXI
THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER. [HOW TO] ... CAST SPELLS, AND WORK EVERY KIND
OF EVIL
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXII
THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER. TO DEMOLISH BUILDINGS AND STRONGHOLDS
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXIII
THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER. TO DISCOVER ANY THEFTS THAT HATH OCCURRED
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXIV
THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER. TO WALK UPON, AND OPERATE UNDER, WATER.
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXV
THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER. TO OPEN EVERY KIND OF LOCK...
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXVI
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER. TO CAUSE VISIONS TO APPEAR
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXVII
THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER. TO HAVE AS MUCH GOLD AND SILVER AS ONE MAY
WISH...
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXVIII
THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER. TO CAUSE ARMED MEN TO APPEAR
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXIX
THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER. TO CAUSE ... MUSIC AND DANCES TO APPEAR
NOTES TO CHAPTER XXX
ESSENTIAL REMARKS UPON THE FOREGOING SYMBOLS
The Book Of The Sacred Magic Of Abramelin The Mage Translated By S.L. Macgregor Mathers
INTRODUCTION
BY
S. L. MAC GREGOR MATHERS.
WING perhaps to the circumstance that the
indispensable "Bædecker" accords only a three
or four line notice to the "Bibliothèque de
l'Arsenal"; but few English or American visitors
to Paris are acquainted with its name,
situation, or contents, though nearly all know
at least by sight the "Bibliothèque Nationale" and the
"Bibliothèque Mazarin".
This "Library of the Arsenal," as it is now called, was
founded as a private collection by Antoine René Voyer
D'Argenson, Marquis de Paulny; and was first opened to the
public on the 9th Floréal, in the fifth year of the French
Republic (that is to say, on 28th April, 1797), or just a
century ago. This Marquis de Paulny was born in the year
1722, died in 1787, and was successively Minister of War,
and Ambassador to Switzerland, to Poland, and to the
Venetian Republic. His later years were devoted to the
formation of this Library, said to be one of the richest
private collections known. It was acquired in 1785 by the
Comte D’Artois, and to-day belongs to the State. It is
situated on the right bank of the Seine, in the Rue de Sully,
near the river, and not far from the Place de la Bastille, and
is known as the "Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal". In round
numbers it now possesses 700,000 printed books, and
about 8000 manuscripts, many of them being of
considerable value.
Among the latter is this Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-
Melin, as delivered by Abraham the Jew unto his son
Lamech; which I now give to the public in printed form for
the first time.
Many years ago I heard of the existence of this manuscript
from a celebrated occultist, since dead; and more recently
my attention was again called to it by my personal friend,
the well-known French author, lecturer and poet, Jules
Bois, whose attention has been for some time turned to
occult subjects. My first-mentioned informant told me that
it was known both to Bulwer Lytton and Éliphas Lévi, that
the former had based part of his description of the Sage
Rosicrucian Mejnour on that of Abra-Melin, while the
account of the so-called Observatory of Sir Philip Derval in
the "Strange Story" was to an extent copied from and
suggested by that of the Magical Oratory and Terrace,
given in the Eleventh Chapter of the Second Book of this
present work. Certainly also the manner of instruction
applied by Mejnour in "Zanoni" to the Neophyte Glyndon,
together with the test of leaving him alone in his abode to
go on a short journey and then returning unexpectedly, is
closely similar to that employed by Abra-Melin to Abraham,
with this difference, that the latter successfully passed
through that test, while Glyndon failed. It would also be
especially such experiments as those described at length in
the Third Book, which the author of the "Strange Story"
had in view when he makes Sir Philip Derval in the MS.
history of his life speak of certain hooks describing occult
experiments, some of which he had tried and to his surprise
found succeed.
This rare and unique manuscript of the Sacred Magic of
Abra-Melin, from which the present work is translated, is a
French translation from the original Hebrew of Abraham
the Jew. It is in the style of script usual at about the end of
the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth centuries,
and is apparently by the same hand as another MS. of the
Magic of Picatrix 1 also in the "Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal". I
know of no other existing copy or replica of this Sacred
Magic of Abra-Melin, not even in the British Museum,